Alberta govt to ban the use of cell phones and other driver distractions - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Dion · 08-11-2009, 02:22 PM

About freaking time is all I have to say!

Quote:

He was reacting to statistics showing driver error was a factor in 90% of 158,055 Alberta crashes last year.

Alberta, in the past, has left drivers to their own devices, relying on existing careless driving laws to nab motorists.

Quote:

"This legislation is going beyond cellphone use, and looking at the broader issue of distracted driving -- it's going to include cellphones, and we've looked at all entertainment devices, like reading and texting."

Though the final legislation is still being tweaked, Transportation Minister Luke Ouellette told Sun Media the law will ban distracting activities while driving.

"That would include pets on your lap, putting on makeup, shaving, using a cellphone -- all kinds of distractions," Ouellette said, two weeks ago.

Quote:

Szarko said Alberta's 11-year delay in passing a law like those in Newfoundland, Quebec and Nova Scotia may actually be an advantage.

"After 11 years of watching how other jurisdictions handled this, Alberta may finally get it right," said Szarko.

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum...22141-sun.html

JustAnotherGuy · 08-11-2009, 02:27 PM

I believe some people can talk on the cell phone and drive properly at the same time.

Methanolic · 08-11-2009, 02:33 PM

FINALLY!! . . . . . .

..."Nanny" is making Perfect sense.

Dion · 08-11-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I believe some people can talk on the cell phone and drive properly at the same time.

To me they're like UFO's. You hear about them all the time but never see them.

alltherage · 08-11-2009, 02:35 PM

Does this mean I can't talk to a friend while driving? Where's the line on this? Can I talk on my phone with a hands free set?

Quote:

Alberta isn't the only province currently dealing with the issue of drivers focusing on electronics.
Ontario passed its own distracted driving law in April, making it illegal to use hand-held cellphones and other electronic devices like BlackBerrys and global positioning systems while driving, with fines of up to $500.

Illegal to use GPS systems? What the hell?

Russic · 08-11-2009, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JustAnotherGuy

I believe some people can talk on the cell phone and drive properly at the same time.

This to me sounds like the rambling of the drunk guy at the party that proclaims he's a better driver when he's smashed.

Methanolic · 08-11-2009, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

Does this mean I can't talk to a friend while driving? Where's the line on this? Can I talk on my phone with a hands free set?

No.

But you can eat chesse burgers and watch movies!

Locke · 08-11-2009, 02:40 PM

This is fascism at its finest.

Good luck enforcing this bitch of a law. Expect traffic violation tickets complaints and defences to explode exponentially and take twice as long.

Why does the Province have to be like a doting Grandmother, do this, dont do that?

I dont like it at all.

HOZ · 08-11-2009, 02:42 PM

alltherage · 08-11-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

This is fascism at its finest.

Good luck enforcing this bitch of a law. Expect traffic violation tickets complaints and defences to explode exponentially and take twice as long.

Why does the Province have to be like a doting Grandmother, do this, dont do that?

I dont like it at all.

I'm pretty sure if you submit a letter politely telling the province that you don't give permission to be bound by laws you can do whatever you want.

ken0042 · 08-11-2009, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

Illegal to use GPS systems? What the hell?

Meaning illegal to touch the GPS while moving. I know mine had a disclaimer on it saying that I agreed never to touch it while driving; I had to check the box prior to it working.

I'll admit that I have tried using the POI feature while driving, and I almost ended up in the ditch. It really isn't that different to be typing in an address than to be texting.

alltherage · 08-11-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ken0042

Meaning illegal to touch the GPS while moving. I know mine had a disclaimer on it saying that I agreed never to touch it while driving; I had to check the box prior to it working.

I'll admit that I have tried using the POI feature while driving, and I almost ended up in the ditch. It really isn't that different to be typing in an address than to be texting.

I hope you're right. I am way worse a driver when I'm trying to go somewhere and I don't know the area.

Dion · 08-11-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

Why does the Province have to be like a doting Grandmother, do this, dont do that?

I dont like it at all.

To protect drivers from the Idiots who think they can multi task while driving. The other day on the Deerfoot some lady was yapping on her cell phone and allowed her van to drift into my lane. I had to hit the horn to get her attention. Too many drivers like her on the road

photon · 08-11-2009, 02:45 PM

I think the problem with cell phone use while driving isn't the talking, it's the handling of the actual phone, dialing, hanging up, all the button type interaction. Once one is talking it's less of a problem.. although it can still be a problem because while you are talking with someone in the car, that person in the car is also aware of what's going on around the car and will have pauses in their conversation when things are going on that require attention, while a person on the cell phone will not.

Same with GPS systems while listening to the "turn right in 50m" instructions isn't so bad, poking at the keys to zoom or change destination and such while driving is far more distracting.

ken0042 · 08-11-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

I think the problem with cell phone use while driving isn't the talking, it's the handling of the actual phone, dialing, hanging up, all the button type interaction. Once one is talking it's less of a problem..

When they did the test on "Mythbusters", they had the drivers do simple tests over the phone- like 4+5+8-2, and some simple word puzzles. They scored as bad as they did when they were drunk.

HalifaxDrunk · 08-11-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

Does this mean I can't talk to a friend while driving? Where's the line on this? Can I talk on my phone with a hands free set?

Illegal to use GPS systems? What the hell?

If it is like here (Nova Scotia) you can talk on your phone with hands free but can not be holding the phone, it has to be sitting down. If they spot you dialing while driving expect to be pulled over. The "correct" way is to pull over and dial or do it at a stoplight. An officer can not tell the difference if you are dialing a single phone number or have been texting back and forth for 25 minutes.

I still see ALOT of people driving with a phone held to thier ear. I admit that I am sometimes guilty of dialing while driving, I just hold the phone down in my lap out of view, then use speakerphone.

I guy here at my work got caught 2 weeks ago and was fined $180.00.

You can use GPS but can not be programming it while driving (similar idea to texting on a phone), program it first then drive.

Locke · 08-11-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alltherage

I'm pretty sure if you submit a letter politely telling the province that you don't give permission to be bound by laws you can do whatever you want.

Haha....yeah, I'll give that a try...

"No, really officer, you cant arrest or detain me, I dont consent, I'm a free-man-on-the-land...."

"Sure you are, your ass is about to get freed...."

mykalberta · 08-11-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by photon

I think the problem with cell phone use while driving isn't the talking, it's the handling of the actual phone, dialing, hanging up, all the button type interaction. Once one is talking it's less of a problem.. although it can still be a problem because while you are talking with someone in the car, that person in the car is also aware of what's going on around the car and will have pauses in their conversation when things are going on that require attention, while a person on the cell phone will not.

Same with GPS systems while listening to the "turn right in 50m" instructions isn't so bad, poking at the keys to zoom or change destination and such while driving is far more distracting.

Studies in the US say anything with a phone is bad - even hands free.

The govt of Alberta can pry my bluetooth headset to my phone from my cold dead hands.

Methanolic · 08-11-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Locke

This is fascism at its finest.

Good luck enforcing this bitch of a law.

Easy to enforce this one. Just call "Nanny" @ 3-1-1 ......And It'll set off a chain reaction of tattle tales ratting on each other.....

rockstar · 08-11-2009, 02:51 PM

I don't know about your handling argument, photon.

I have no link, but I recall in a cognitive psych course I took a couple of years ago, there were experiments run on subjects who used a driving simulator while talking on a cellphone. Some used regular cellphones, others were given hands-free devices.

There was shown to be zero difference (in terms of attention, reaction time to certain events, etc.) between those who were talking on normal phones and those who were on the hands-free.

Wish I could provide a link to this; you'll just have to trust me.